RSS Feed from The Oakland Press: http://www.theoaklandpress.comThe latest news from The Oakland Press: http://www.theoaklandpress.com website: all storieshttp://www.theoaklandpress.com
The Oakland PressFri, 09 Dec 2016 22:13:57 -050060ANN ARBOR, Mich. >> Jabrill Peppers pressed a phone against his right cheek, head bowed, and swayed from side to side.

He picked his head up when he heard unexpected news.

"Wow. Hey," he said, tilting his head back with a huge smile upon finding out he was a Heisman Trophy finalist. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Mayfield is one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football and something of a magician in the pocket, escaping trouble to make something out of nothing. Westbrook is a big play waiting to happen, a receiver who can turn just about any play into long touchdown.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 21:30:09 -0500201612092131122016-12-09T21:30:09-05:002016-12-09T21:31:12-05:00BALTIMORE >> Army-Navy is America's Game. That's the way Jeff Monken sees it, and he brings a solid argument to back up the assertion.

Now in his third season as Army's head coach, Monken previously spent six years as an assistant at Navy. Having been an integral part of the annual duel between the esteemed service academies, Monken considers it to be the epitome of college football.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 21:17:51 -0500201612092117512016-12-09T21:17:51-05:002016-12-09T21:17:51-05:00LONDON >> Russia's sports reputation was ripped apart again Friday when a new report into systematic doping detailed a vast "institutional conspiracy" that covered more than 1,000 athletes in over 30 sports and corrupted the drug-testing system at the 2012 and 2014 Olympics.

The findings were handed over to the International Olympic Committee, which will be under pressure to take action against the Russians ahead of the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

"When I played - one of my kids asked me if I ever got a concussion - I can honestly tell you I don't even know," said Gretzky, who was representing the Edmonton Oilers as a partner and vice-chairman.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:55:32 -0500201612092055322016-12-09T20:55:32-05:002016-12-09T20:55:32-05:00NAPLES, Fla. >> Harris English and Matt Kuchar shot a 6-under 66 in windy modified alternate shot play Friday to take the second-round lead in the Franklin Templeton Shootout.

English and Kuchar were at 21 under at Tiburon after opening with a 57 on Thursday in the scramble round. They won in 2013 in their first start together and finished second the last two years.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:43:09 -0500201612092043092016-12-09T20:43:09-05:002016-12-09T20:43:09-05:00KANSAS CITY, Mo. >> There is an argument to be made that the AFC West is the best division in the NFL.

There is little argument to be made that the Chiefs are the class of it.

After dispatching the Raiders on a frigid night at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs are tied with them for the lead at 10-3 with three games left in the regular season.

More coaches are going for it in situations that used to be automatic punts or field-goal attempts. Through Week 13, teams went on fourth down 350 times and converted 181 or 51.7 percent.

Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden made perhaps the boldest call when Washington faced fourth-and-inches from its 41-yard line with a 29-24 lead and 6:12 remaining against the Green Packers on Nov.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 19:07:04 -0500201612091907042016-12-09T19:07:04-05:002016-12-09T19:07:04-05:00CHARLOTTE, N.C. >> It took less than four laps for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to feel back at home in his race car. His test this week at Darlington Raceway was the final hurdle for NASCAR's most popular driver to earn clearance to compete next season.

The test ended months of speculation - should Earnhardt retire? Was the risk of suffering yet another concussion too great? - and a detailed medical plan helped get him back on the track when many thought he should just step away for good.

ST. LOUIS >> Dexter Fowler is headed from the World Series champions to their biggest rival.

After helping the Chicago Cubs end their long championship drought, he finalized an $82.5 million, five-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. Fowler fills the last big hole left in the Cardinals lineup after moves made earlier in the offseason to shore up the bullpen.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:47:52 -0500201612091847522016-12-09T18:47:52-05:002016-12-09T18:47:52-05:00TORONTO >> Having played in two World Cups for the United States and finishing on the losing side of the Coppa Italia final when he was with Roma, Toronto FC captain Michael Bradley is no stranger to the big occasion.

But he's also savvy enough to know that pre-game plans don't always pan out, so when he leads his team onto the field for Saturday night's MLS Cup final against the Seattle Sounders, he'll be keeping an open mind.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 17:13:57 -0500201612091713572016-12-09T17:13:57-05:002016-12-09T17:13:57-05:00DETROIT >> It's probably no coincidence that the Detroit Tigers made zero World Series trips between the time they traded Omar Infante away in the 2007 offseason, and when they reacquired him at the 2012 trade deadline.

With him, they made trips to the 2006 and 2012 Fall Classic.

And now they have him back, so it's logical to assume .

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:48:19 -0500201612091712472016-12-09T16:48:19-05:002016-12-09T17:12:47-05:00ALLEN PARK >> Within two weeks Brandon Pettigrew went from eager to return to action to being swept out the door.

The long-time Detroit Lions tight end was waived from reserve/non-football injury on Friday afternoon.

Pettigrew, 31, had been given that designation on Tuesday going from the physically unable to perform list which he had been on since the start of training camp in July.

In the last six games - five of them wins - the Lions defense has held opponents to 20 points or less.

The defense goes into Sunday's game with the goal of limiting Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard and pressuring inexperienced quarterback Matt Barkley.

]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:50:49 -0500201612091550492016-12-09T15:50:49-05:002016-12-09T15:50:49-05:00KANSAS CITY, Mo. >> Tyreek Hill had touchdowns receiving and on a punt return, Kansas City's defense made life miserable for Oakland quarterback Derek Carr, and the Chiefs beat the Raiders 21-13 on a frigid Thursday night to take control of the AFC West.